Madras High Court
S.Palaniappan vs The Secretary on 13 October, 2025
WP(MD). No.27385 of 2025
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
Dated : 13/10/2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.KUMARESH BABU
WP(MD). No.27385 of 2025
and
WMP(MD)No.21301 of 2025
S.Palaniappan ... Petitioner
Vs
1. The Secretary,
Stationery and Printing Department,
Fort St. George,
Chennai-600 009.
2. The Commissioner,
Stationer and Printing Department,
110, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002.
3. The Joint Director,
Stationery and Printing Department,
110, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.
4. The Deputy Work Manager,
Government Branch Press,
Thuvakkudi,
Tiruchirappalli. ... Respondents
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WP(MD). No.27385 of 2025
PRAYER :-
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India,
praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for
the records on the file of the 3rd respondent in connection with the
impugned order of transfer passed by him vide his proceedings in
Na.Ka.No.A1/5151/2025 dated 10.09.2025 and subsequent impugned
relieving order passed by the 4th respondent in Se.Mu.Aanai
No.A1/5151/2025 dated 17.09.2025 and quash the both as illegal,
arbitrary and punitive in nature and there by direct the respondents to
permit the petitioner to continue his service as DTP Operator in the 4th
respondent office.
For Petitioner : Mr.G.Thalaimutharasu
Advocate.
For Respondents : Mr.M.Siddharthan
Addl. Government Pleader
ORDER
This Writ Petition is filed challenging the impugned order of transfer passed by him vide his proceedings in Na.Ka.No.A1/5151/2025 dated 10.09.2025 and subsequent impugned relieving order passed by the 4th respondent in Se.Mu.Aanai No.A1/5151/2025 dated 17.09.2025 and seeking consequential direction to the respondent to permit the petitioner to continue his service as DTP Operator in the 4th respondent office.
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2. The learned Counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner was employed as a Compositor in the respondent department through employment exchange in the year 1991. Thereafter, he had been promoted as DTP operator in the year 2010 and posted in the fourth respondent office. He has also functioning as State President in the TamilNadu Government Press All Technical Staff Union. While that being so, the fourth respondent had issued a proceedings of stoppage of increment for three months without cumulative effect on the ground that there is lack of performance to an extend of 13% for the academic year 2024 to 2025 and therefore, he is ineligible to get the annual increment.
Hence, the petitioner had refused to receive the said show cause notice on 04.09.2025, a show cause notice under Rule 17(a) of the TamilNadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal Rules) was issued and calling upon explanation for the non-satisfactory performance for the academic year 2024-2025. However, within six days, the impugned order had been passed by transferring the petitioner from the 4th respondent office to the Government Branch Press at Pudukottai. He further submits that the said order is punitive as the same had been followed up with the show cause 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/10/2025 01:18:50 pm ) WP(MD). No.27385 of 2025 notice issued under rule 17(a) of TamilNadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal Rules) as stated supra. Therefore, he prays this court to set aside the order impugned in the present writ petition.
3. Countering his argument, Mr.M.Siddharthan, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents would submit that the petitioner had been working in the 4th respondent office from the year 2015, i.e., for the past 15 years. He further submits that the order of transfer had been made on administrative grounds and it cannot be said punitive, the petitioner is separately being dealt with under the relevant rules for his non-performance. He further submits that if no disciplinary proceedings has been initiated and he has been transferred for his non-
performance, it may be punitive. Therefore, he prays this Court to dismiss the writ petition.
4. I have considered the submissions made on either sides and perused the materials available on record.
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5. Admittedly, the petitioner has been working in the very same station for the past 15 years and he has also been dealt with proceedings under Rule 17(a) of TamilNadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal Rules) for his low performance. Even though the claim of the petitioner is that he had been transferred only for the said reason, the order impunged herein would indicate that the same had been made on administrative exigency. Further, as claimed by the petitioner, the same could also not be said to be punitive for the reasons attributed by the petitioner. The petitioner is being dealt with under rule 17(a)of TamilNadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal Rules). For the aforesaid reasons, this Court do not find that the impugned order of transfer to be punitive and this Court do not find any reason to interfere with the order of transfer.
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6. With the above said observations, this writ petition is dismissed.
No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
13.10.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No gvn 6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/10/2025 01:18:50 pm ) WP(MD). No.27385 of 2025 To
1. The Secretary, Stationery and Printing Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Commissioner, Stationer and Printing Department, 110, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.
3. The Joint Director, Stationery and Printing Department, 110, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.
4. The Deputy Work Manager, Government Branch Press, Thuvakkudi, Tiruchirappalli.
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